BRANDON, Man. - A man from an Orthodox Mennonite community in Manitoba has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for assaults on several children.
The man, who cannot be identified, was charged in 2013 after more than 40 children were seized by social workers from the community.
The man earlier pleaded guilty to five counts of assault with a weapon and one count of assault on the victims, who were as young as five.
Court heard that the children were accused of having impure thoughts and were beaten with a leather strap, a hammer handle and an iron poker.
Thirteen people from the community were originally accused in the case, but the Crown dropped charges against all but four.
The children were eventually returned to their parents after they agreed to follow guidelines for disciplining children.
